KATI MORA: Asking the right questions keeps healthy eating simple

If you were trapped on a desert island and could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? We’ve probably all been asked that question before and without hesitation, shouted out some of our favorite foods. Pizza, ice cream, homemade bread, cheeseburgers, and so on and so on. But as a dietitian, I can’t help but pause before answer. How long could a person survive on pizza alone? Or how long would it take you to get sick of the same food day after day?

We may not be stranded on a desert island, but odds are we already eat some of the same foods day after day. And the questions remain - are these foods satisfying and are they still exciting? And since we aren’t stranded on a desert island, we probably have a lot of other questions we’re asking about our food. Where our food comes from, how it is produced, what the ingredients are, and how much it costs are probably just a few. It gets confusing quickly and pretty soon it is easy to understand why we choose favorite foods over sustaining foods when a hypothetical deserted island gets thrown into the mix.

So how do we keep healthy eating simple and avoid getting overwhelmed by all the questions we may ask?

Ask the right questions. Although your mind may already be swimming in questions, it is important to identify the right ones that can help you unlock your path towards healthy eating. Although generic questions can get overwhelming, personal questions can often help someone overcome food-related obstacles. What food decisions matter to you? What healthy eating goals do you have in place? What makes healthy eating a challenge for you and your family? By identifying the answers to these questions, you can start building a game plan to start incorporating the types of good-for-you foods you want into your day.

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Keep it simple. Have you ever noticed that the closer you get to the center of the grocery store, the more confusing healthy eating seems to get? That’s because the center of the grocery store is often where the processed foods dwell, and along with them their often confusing nutrition fact panels. To keep healthy eating simple, consider shopping the perimeter of the store and look for foods with as few ingredients as possible.

Spend more time in the kitchen. One of the easiest ways to improve the way you eat is to simply spend more time in the kitchen. By yourself, with the family, or with a friend, consider making your kitchen the “it” spot in your house. No matter your skill level, just get going. Make a plan, purchase ingredients, and get started. It may not go smoothly at first, but if you stick with it, it can be life changing! It also increases your food options and gives you more control over your food decisions.

Explore your local food environment. Lastly, when things start to get a little too serious or dull, it is probably time to remind yourself of how wonderful and how plentiful food really is. To do this, go out and take advantage of your local foodie establishments. The farmer’s market, local co-ops, and food-inspired festivals are just a few great ways to have fun with your food. You may even find new varieties of your favorite fruits or vegetables to try or get inspired by the conversations you have with those working at those establishments or shopping there with there family. After all, food doesn’t just sustain us; it is also a part of our heritage, our customs, and our community.

Remember, you aren’t really on a desert island and sometimes a community of food-loving people can make a world of difference when it comes to making better choices.

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Kati Mora is a registered dietitian who has called mid-Michigan home for the last ten years. Mora has been featured in Self Magazine, Fitness Magazine, and Diets in Review. Email her at kati@aroundtheplate.org and find her online at AroundthePlate.org or visit her at thePlate Boutique in downtown Mt. Pleasant.